A PLANNING inquiry into a Cumbrian windfarm is being watched with interest by campaigners in the North-East.

The public inquiry into an application for 27 wind turbines at Whinash, near Tebay at Penrith, Cumbria, began yesterday and is expected to last five weeks.

The development would be the largest land turbine development in Europe, measuring more than five miles in length.

It has been backed by environmental groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, who say it will help in the battle against climate change.

However, campaigners against the wind farm say the noise and visual impact on the landscape would outweigh its environmental benefits.

The site is near the M6 between the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Park.

Jill Perry, energy campaigner for Friends of the Earth said of the Whinash inquiry: "I am amazed that people are claiming that the area should be designated a national park.

"What kind of national park has a motorway running through it?

"People need to wake up to the fact that climate change will happen and it's not good enough to pretend that we can sit back for the next few years thinking about the situation."

However, Elizabeth Mann, from Darlington, who successfully led a campaign against a windfarm at Barningham High Moor, near Barnard Castle, said the 377ft turbines would have a much greater visual impact than the motorway.

The retired teacher said: "The A66 runs near the Stang Forest (near Barningham) scheme and this was defeated in the High Court.

"The motorway is level with the ground and these turbines are 400ft high, one of them is bigger than the hill it is on.

"I am going to go to the public inquiry.

"Each site must be looked at specifically and the benefits weighed up against the non-benefits.

"I've walked in Whinash and on balance I think it should be left as it is.